Planograph co



G. AIBENDER.

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CASE. APPLICATION FILED 050.4. 1911.

1,3 10,777. 7 Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHET I WITNESS INVENTOH.

G. A. BENDER.

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED 0504,1917.

1,8 10,777. I Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPII co.. WASHINGTON, D. 1.

f siding at Pittsburgh,

UNITE s'ransrari rroE.

- GEORGE A. IBENDEB, or rITrsBuReH,PENNSYLVANIA. a 2;;

COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed December 4, 1917. S eriaLNo. 205,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BENDER, a citizen of the United, States of America, rein'the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Shipping-Cases, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to a collapsible shipping case for pianos and organs and has for its object to provide a casefor such purpose, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, capable of being set up to inclose the piano or organ without employing nails for securing the elements of the case together, under such conditions preventing any possibility of damage to the article inclosed in the case to be shipped.

A further object of the invention isrto 1 provide a shipping case for the purposeset forth capable of being folded when not in use, in a compact manner requiring but a a small space for storage purposes.

A further object of the invention is; to, provide a collapsible case for the purpose set forth, in a manner as hereinafter referred p,

to, whereby the entire front and top can be; i detached to permit the convenient removal of the piano ororg'an when desired,

A further objectof the invention is to purpose set forth, in'a manner as hereinafter .set forth, including a foldable bottom sectionand a series of separate elements forming the upper portion of the case, and which are capable of being nested int-he bottom section and looked therein.

Further objects of the invention are rd i this invention, ping purposes.

- case when collapsed,

, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, 1

conveniently :mvcntion, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Figural a perspective view of a col 1 lapsible'shipping case, in accordance with V the case being set up for ship- ;Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the case when collapsed, folded and nested.

Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of the folded and nested.

Fig. 5 is arearelevation,broken away, of

the case when-setup.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the upper 7 members of aside wall'looking toward the inner face thereof;

Fig, 7is a view showing both ends of the top member.

Fig. Sis a similar view of the upper mem ber of the front wall.

Fig. is a section on Fig. 10 is a rear of the brace element.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are sectionaldetails.

line I'XIX, Fig. 4.

Referring to, the drawingsin detail oiie end wall of thecase is formed of a stationprovide a collapsible shipping case for the ary member A, a hinged, member B, and a detachable member C. The member B, is

hingedto the member A, as at D, and is capable of folding inwardly therefrom.

l/V henthe member B, is extended, it is super posed upon the member A. i

The other endwallof the case is formed of. a stationary member A, hinged member B and a detachable member C. The memberB, is hinged as at E, and is capable of folding inwardly, and when extended is superposed upon the member A.

The member C, is detachably connected to the member B, upon the topedge thereof, and the member C, is detachably connected to the member B, upon the .top edge thereof. The means for connecting the member C to the member B, is similar in construction to the-means for connecting the member C to the member B, and such means consists in providing the top edge ofthe member B and the -member B" with a pair of transversely extendin grooves F, opening at the elevation, broken away,

co esp d P rts inner faces of said members and closed at their top by slotted plates Gr, formed with transverse slots H of less width than the width of the grooves F. The lower edge of the member C andthe lower edge of the member C are each provided with a plurality of headed studs J, adapted to engage in the grooves F and extend through the slots H, whereby the members C and C are detachably connected to the top edge of the members B andiB.

" The forward edge of each of the members 0 andC, is beveled. Connected to. the upperface, at the rear of each of the members 0' and'C, is the'forward side of an angleiron'K, which overlaps the rear edge of the member, as well as extending inwardly from of the member G, at the top thereof, is

the said rear edge, and is provided with keyhole-shaped openings L.

The marginal portionof the inner face provided'with a number of bayonet shaped slots M, which open at the top edge of said member, Themarginal portion of the inner face of the member C, at the front thereof, is provided with a pair of bayonet-shaped slots N, which open at the front edge of said v shaped openings T. The angle-irons S, depend below the bottom edges of the members B and B and overlap the members A Y and A,when the members B and B are superposed with respect to the members A and A.

The members A and A, are fixedly secured tot-he bottom W, as well as being flush with the end edges of said bottom.

' 'Each of the members A and A, has secured to the forward end thereof an angle iron Y, which projects forwardly from the front edge of the said members A and A.

The rear wall of the case is formed of a stationary member 1, and a pair of detachable members 2 and 3. The member 2, is

V detachably mounted upon the member ,1, and

the member 3, mounted in a similar manner on the member 2. The member 1, is of less height than the members A and A, and abuts againstthe inner face, of these latter memb ers. The member 1, is secured to the bottom W, and 'al' so to the members A' and A b angle-irons 4,. which are arr-an ed at a .V 2 g the ends of the members 1.

Member 2, has its rear face, at each end, provided with a headed stud 4:,and the member 3, has its rear face, at each end, provided with a series of headed studs 5. The studs 4: and 5, are adapted to en age in keyhole-shaped openings T and L, w ereby the inem'bers 2 and 3, are detachably connected to the members B, B, C, C. The member 3, terminates at a point below the upper edges of the members 0 and C, and forms a support or seat for the rear of the top member 6.

The top member 6, is arranged between the members O andiC', and one end of said member 6, is provided with pair of headed studs 7, which engage in the slots M. That end of the member 6,"provided with the studs 7, is formed with'a socket 8, which is adapted to register'with the opening 0. A screw or other suitable means is extended through the opening 0 and engages in the socket '8. The other end of member 6, has

a pair of sockets 9, which register with. the

openings P. Screws 10, are extended through the openings P, and engage in the sockets 9, whereby the member 6, is secured in position to close the top of the case.

The front wall of the" case is formed of a bottom removable member 11,; an-inter mediate detachable member 12, and an up- 139. The memberll, is seated"against the forward edges of the members A and A, and also upon the bottom W, and the said member 11, hasits ends extended between the forward portion of the angle-irons V, and the'forward edges oflthe members A and A. Suitable screws 14,-areex'tended through the forward portion *ofthe angle;

irons V, and engage in the member 11, for

securing it in position. i

The member B, as well as the member B,

has secured to the fonward portion thereof,

an angle-iron 1 5, which has the front por tion thereof overlapping, as well as being spaced from the front edge of its respective member B or'B, and the said forward-portlon of each of the angle-Hons 15, is provided with keyhole-openings 16, to receive studs 17, carried by theintermediate' member 12, of the front wall.

The intermediate member 12, of the front wall has the end portions thereofextended' between the forward portionof the angle 1 95 per'rearwardly-inclined detachable member extended through said openings R, and engage in the sockets 19, and secure the member 13, in position.

The member 12, when the case is set up, is

seated upon the top edge of the member 11,

and the member 13, is interposed between the side members 0 and C, seated upon the front member 12, and has the top member 6, mounted thereon. 1 i

The member 1, of the rear. wall is provided with lugs. 21, and'the bottom member 11,"of the front wall with lugs 22. fWhen the members B andB", are folded to the position-shown in- Fig. 2, the lugs 21, 22, associate with certain of the openings 16 and T, to lock said membersB and B, to the members 1 and 11, under, such conditions, securing the detachable members or elements in nested position in- ,the bottom section of the case, which is formed by the said members A and A, rear member 1, front member 11, bottom W and said members B and B". y

The lugs 21 and 22, are formed by off setting portions of metallic reinforcing strips 23, .24, respectively. The strips 23, are se- The strip-24,..ha-s a countersunk opening 30, l

cured to the outer face. of the stationary member 1, and overlap the bottom W. The strips 24, overlap the top and bottom edges.

of the bottom member 11 of the front wall.

Secured upon the upper faceof the bottom W, are transversely extending bottom bars 25, each. of which has its forward end capped by a metallicstrip 26. The forward end of each bar 25, has a socket 27 which registers with an opening 28, formed in the cap-strip 26., The opening 28, registers with i an opening 29. formed in; the member 11.

for the head of airetaining screw 31, the latter being adapted to engage in the socket 27, for the purpose of-detachably securing in position the; member 11.

Screws maybe employed, as indicated at 32,.for detachably securingthe rear of the top, member 6, to the'upper member 3, of the rear wall." 7 I Angle irons 33, are employedfor securing the portions A and A to the bottom W.

The iangle irons 33, strengthen the ends of t-h'ezcase at thebottoms of the side walls.

Toovercome anytorsional twist of the case during sh pment -a knock-down brace elementis providedand which isarranged against, as well as securedto, the lnner face of the back wall. ,The saldibraceelement consists of a four-way coupling 34, to each of thelegs of which isconnected an inclined brace member 35, which extends to a corner oftthe'case and abuts against a side wall. Thebolt36 is employed for securingthe coupling 34 t0 the back wall. The bolt 36%- tends through the coupling and, also the back Wall and isjprovided on its outer end with a securing end 37.' A large Washer 38,

that the brace members of the-front brace element are not provided with openings for thepassage of lag-screws. The front brace. element isv secured to the front wall in a' manner similar to that in which the rear brace element is secured to the back wall.

The bottom bars are employed for supporting the casters of the piano when the latter is mounted therein.

What I claim is: V

1. A collapsible shipping case comprising front, rear and side walls and a. bottom, each of saidwalls consisting'of a lower, intermediate and an upper member, said lower .members of the side and rear walls fixedly secured to said bottom, angle-irons project ing from the forward ends of the lower members of the side walls and overlapping the ends of the lower member of the front wall, means carried by and projecting from the intermediate and upper members of the side walls and overlapping and engaging with the mtern'lediate and upper members of the rear wall for detachably connecting sa d members together, means earned by and projecting inwardly from the intermediate members of the side walls overlapping and engaging with the intermediate member of the front wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by said angle-irons engaging in the lower member of the front wall for detachably connecting said memberto the lower members of the side walls, means extending through theupper members of the side walls'a-nd engagmg 1n the upper member of the front wall for' cletachably connecting said members togetherg a top member arrangedbetween the upper members of the side walls,

means carried by the upper members oftlle side walls for detachably connecting the top member therewith, and means for liinging the intermediate members of the sidewalls to the lower members of said walls.

2. A collapsibleshipping case comprising front, rear and side walls and a bottom, each oflsaid walls consisting of a lower, intermediate and anupper member, said lower members of the side and rear walls fixedly secured to said bottom, angle-irons [pro jecting from the forward ends of the lower members of the side Walls and overlapping the ends ofthe lower member of the front wall, means carried by and projecting from p the intermediate and upper members of the side walls and overlapping and engaging bers of the side walls, means extending through the upper members of the side walls and engaging in the upper member of the front wall for detachably connecting said members together, a top member arranged between the upper members of the side walls, means carried by the upper members of the side walls fordetachably connecting the top member therewith, and means for hinging the intermediate members of the side walls to the lower members of said walls, and the said upper 'mem'ber of the front wall being disposed atan inclination and flush with the forward edges of the top members of the side walls.

3. A collapsible shipping case comprising front, rear and side walls and a bottom, each of said wallsconsisting of a lower,

intermediate and an upper member, said lower members of the side and rear walls fixedly secured to said bottom, angle-irons projecting from the forward ends of the lower members of the side walls and overlapping the ends of the lower member of the front wall, means carried by and projecting from the intermediate and upper members of the side walls and overlapping and engaging with the intermediate and upper members of the rear wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by and projecting inwardly from the intermediate members of the side walls overlapping and engaging with the: intermediate member of the front wall for de I tachably connecting said memberstogether, means carried by said. angle-irons and engaging in the lower member of the front wall for detachably connecting said member to the lower members of the side walls, means extending through the upper mem bers of the side walls and engaging in the upper member of the front wall for detacha'bly connecting said members together, a top member arranged between the upper members of the side walls, means carried by the upper members of the side walls for detachably connecting the top member therewith, and means for hinging the intermediate members of the side walls to the lower s 70. 4. A collapsible shipping case comprising front, rear and sidewalls and a bottom, I each of sald walls consisting of alower,

intermediate and an upper member, said lower members of the side I'an'drear walls fixedly secured to said bottom, angle-irons j projecting from the forwardends of the lower members of the side 'wallsand overlapping-the ends'of the lower member ofjthe -.8O

front wall, means carried by and projecting from the intermediate and upper members of the side walls and overlapping and'en V gaging with the intermediate and upper 5 members of the 'rearwall for 'detachably connecting said members together, means carried by and projecting"inwardly from" the intermediate'members 0f the side walls overlapping and engaging withthe interline v diate member of the front wall for1-detach--= ably connecting said members together,

means carried by said angle-irons and en-" gaging in the lower member ofthe front wall for detachably connecting said member tothe lower members of the side walls,

means extending throughthe upper mmhere of the side walls and engaging inthe upper member ofthe'front wall for detachably connecting said members together, a top member arranged betweennthe upper mem bers of the side ,walls, meansi'carried' by the upper members ofthe side walls for d'etachably connecting the top member there 'i with, and means for hinging the intermee diate members of the side walls to the lower members ofsaid walls,and the said upper member of the front wall being disposed Q at an inclination and flush with the forward edges of the top members of thesidewalls,

and transversely extending spaced bottom bars secured tothe upper face of said bot;

equipped with a metallic strip.

tom and each having its "forward end a 5. A collapsible shipping case comprising front,.rear and side walls and a bottom,

each of said walls co'nsistingofaj lower, intermediate and an upper member, said" lower members of the side a and rear walls A fixedly secured to. said'bottom, angle-irons projecting from the forwardiends ofthe lower members of the side walls and over-f 1 lapping the endsof the lower member' of the front wall, means carriedby and pro- 1' jecting from the intermediate and upper members of the side wallsiand overlapping and engaging with the intermediate and upper members of the rear wall for ,de

tachably connecting said members together,

means carried by andprojecting inwardly from the intermediate members of the side walls overlappingan engaging with the intermediate member ofthe front wall for detachably connecting said members towall for detachably connecting said mem- "ber to the lower members of the side walls,

walls and engaging in the upper member means extending through the upper members of the side walls, means extending through the upper'members of the side of the frontwall for detachably connecting said members together, a top member arranged between the upper members of the side walls, means carried by the upper members of the side walls for detachably connecting the top member therewith, and means for hinging the intermediate members of the side walls to the lower members of said walls, and lugs projecting from the bottom members of the front and rear walls and engaged by the connecting means carried by the intermediate members of 'the side walls to maintain the removable elements in nested position. v

6. A. collapsible shipping case comprising front, rear and side walls and a bottom, each of said walls consisting of a lower, intermediate and an upper member, said lower members of the side and rear walls fixedly securedto said bottom, angle-irons projecting from the forward ends of the lower members of the side walls and overlapping the ends of the lower member of the front wall, means carried by and projecting from the intermediate and upper members of the sidewalls and overlapping and engaging with the intermediate and upper members of the rear wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by and projecting inwardly from the intermediate members of the side walls overlapping and engaging with the intermediate member of the front wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by said angle-irons engaging in the lower member of the front wall for detachably connecting said member to the lower members of the side walls, means extending through the upper members of the side walls and engaging in the upper member of the front wall for detachably connecting said members together, a top member arranged between the upper members of the side walls, means carried by the upper members of the side walls for detachably connecting the top member therewith, and means for hinging the intermediate members of the side walls to the lower members of said walls, and a knock-down brace ele ment having arms abutting against the top and bottom members of the side walls and having its central portion detachably secured to the rear wall.

7. A collapsible shipping case comprising front, rear and side walls and a bottom, each of said walls consisting of a lower, intermediate and .an upper member, said lower members of the side and rear walls fixedly secured to said bottom, angle-irons projecting from the forward ends of the lower members of the side walls and overlapping the ends of the lower members of the front wall, means carried by and projecting from the intermediate and upper members of the side walls and overlapping and engaging with the intermediate and upper members of the rear wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by and projecting inwardly from the intermediate members of the side walls overlapping and engaging with the intermediate member of the, front wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by said angle-irons and engaging in the lower member of the front wall for detachably connecting said member to the lower members of the side walls, means extending through the upper members of the side walls and engaging in the upper member of the front wall for "detachably connecting said members to gether, a top member arranged between the upper members of the side walls, means carried by the upper members of the side walls for detachably connecting the top member therewith, and means for hinging the intermediate members of the side walls: to the lower members of said walls, and the said upper member of thefront wall being disposed at an inclination and flush with the forward edges of the top members of the side walls, and a knock-down brace element having'arms abutting against the top and bottom members of the side walls, and having its central portion detachably secured to the rear wall.

8. A collapsible shipping case comprising front, rear and side walls and a bottom, each of said walls consisting of a lower, intermediate and an upper member, said lower members of the side and rear walls fixedly secured to said bottom, angle-irons projecting from the forward ends of the lower members of the side walls and overlapping the ends of the lower member of the front wall, means carried by and projecting from the intermediate and upper members of the side walls and overlapping and engaging with the intermediate and upper members of the rear wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by and projecting inwardly from the intermediate members of the side walls overlapping and engaging with the intermediate member of the front wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carriedby said angle-irons engaging in the lower member of the front wall for detachably connecting said member to the lower members of the 7 side walls, means extending through the upper members of the side walls and engaging in the upper member of the front Wall for detachably connecting said members together,

a top member arranged between the upper members of the side walls, means carried by the upper members of the side walls for detaehably connecting the top member there- ,with, and means for hinging the intermediate members of the side walls to the lower members of said walls, and a knockdown brace element having arms abutting against the top and bottom members of the side walls and having its central portion detachably secured to the rear wall, and a knock-down brace positioned against the inner face of the front Wall, and having arms engaging the inter mediate and bottom members of the side. Walls and havlng 1ts central portlon detachably secured to the front walls.

9. A collapsible shipping case comprising front, rear and side walls and a bottom, each of said walls consisting of a lower, intermediate and an upper member, said lower members of the side and rear Walls fixedly secured to said bottom, angle-irons projecting from the forward ends of the lower membersof the side walls and overlapplng the ends of the lower members of the front wall, means carried by and pro ecting from the intermediate and upper members of the Y side walls and overlapping and engaging with the intermediate and upper members of the rear wall for detachably connecting said members together, means carried by and projecting inwardly from the intermediate members of the side walls overlapping Copies of this patent may .be obtained for and engaging in the upper member of the front wall fordetachably connecting said.

members together, a top member arranged between the upper members of the side walls, means carried by the upper members of the side walls for detachably connecting the top member therewith, and means for;

hinging the intermediate members of the side walls to the lower members of said walls, and the said upper member of the front wall being disposed at an inclination and flush with the forward edges of the top members of the, slde walls, and a knock-down brace element having arms abutting againstthe topand bottom members of the side walls, andhaving its central portion detachably securedto the rear walls, and a knock-down brace positioned against the inner face. of thefront wall and having arms engaging the intermediate and bottom members of the side walls and having its central portion detachably secured to the front walls.

In testimony whereof I aflirr my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. BENDER.

Witnesses: a

E. N. LONG, 7 MAX H. SGOLORITZ.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

